Zoning ordinance meets approval

BREVARD -- A proposed zoning ordinance for 640 acres in Pisgah Forest got a thumbs up from area residents who urged Transylvania County Commissioners to act quickly on the measure.

By Leigh KelleyTimes-News Staff Writer

BREVARD -- A proposed zoning ordinance for 640 acres in Pisgah Forest got a thumbs up from area residents who urged Transylvania County Commissioners to act quickly on the measure.The proposed zoning ordinance splits the land into two districts -- a corridor mixed-use district comprised of U.S. 64 and N.C. 280, and an open use district that would include parcels that do not abut or are adjacent to the U.S. 64 and N.C. 280 corridors.The process began when the city of Brevard was considering its options for extending its extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to control future growth. By state law, governments can extend their jurisdictions up to 1 mile outside city or town limits.More than a year ago, City Council members cited the Davidson River Village development and the properties fronting U.S. 64 between N.C. 280/276 and Davidson River Road as primary areas for growth in the near future. Council members have said they were motivated to take action by the fear that uncontrolled growth would occur if some kind of zoning were not in place.But Pisgah Forest residents who would be brought in city jurisdiction expressed concern, saying they would rather be regulated by the county than the city, and a joint city and county committee was established last year to explore all options.After more than a year of work by county planning staff, county planning board members and a specially created committee comprised of Pisgah Forest residents, a public hearing was held Monday for the Pisgah Forest Community Zoning Ordinance.Several county residents who spoke said they liked what they saw. Residents also told county commissioners they wanted to see quick action on the ordinance before Brevard City Council members expand the city's ETJ any further.Council members recently took the Cemetery Road area into its newly expanded ETJ. City leaders said it made sense to do this because Brevard had already extended water and sewer lines to the area."The fact about being controlled by someone else is totally wrong," said Sarah Mathis, an Upper Glady Creek Road resident, adding that she did not want her property included in the city's ETJ. "City Council does not care about us and the ETJ is just an excuse to bring in more money (through tourism and development). People are counting on you to do what's right. I don't like zoning, but it would be better than the ETJ."Pisgah Forest resident Steve Owen said the only thing he disagreed with about the proposed ordinance was the building height limit, which allows three-story structures. He said the 50-feet maximum height recommendation was too high and would destroy the area's "community character."

"We will just have to agree to disagree on this," Owen said. "The county needs to move on with this (ordinance) because if something isn't done, the city will continue to expand the ETJ any time they feel like it."Ken Norman, a member of the Pisgah Forest Committee, said the committee is pleased with the proposed ordinance and the time for talking about it is over, adding that the group liked the county's zoning proposal better than the city's ETJ plans."I am asking you to continue to work for the Pisgah Forest citizens -- it (the city's ETJ expansion) has to stop," he said. "It is obvious the city intends to gobble up as much as it can."Norman added that for county commissioners to vote against the proposed zoning ordinance would to be "part of the problem."The "open use" form of zoning will minimize the impact on property owners who are not on N.C. 280 or U.S. 64.There are 11 high-impact "special uses" that would fall under county regulation to avoid any serious community impact, Transylvania County Planning Director Mike Thomas said.They include industry, solid waste management facilities, mining operations, concrete and asphalt plants, incinerators, junk yards, slaughtering plants, amusement parks, chip mills and motor sports facilities.These are not outlawed in open use zoning, but would be subject to conditions set forth by the county.There are three prohibited uses that would not be allowed anywhere under the proposed zoning ordinance, Thomas said. Those include adult entertainment establishments and hazardous waste and radioactive waste facilities.Transylvania County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jason Chappell said the ordinance would come up for a vote at the next commission meeting on May 10.

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